The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories.

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Management has two priorities: 1) Making sure money is made, hence upgrading and filling up apartments is their goal. "Amenities" are important in selling the place, though few residents use them. 2) If someone needs medical attention, Public Safety will be there, if alerted.

Quality of life issues are not that important, however. Things like the carpet rule or outsider dogs. These "rules" tend to be ignored, on purpose it seems. So you will see a lot that isn't taken care of properly, and complaints will be met with a creative excuse and a smile.

"Peace and quiet" must be a cruel joke, though this property is sold that way. There can be no peace and quiet as ALL apartments must be upgraded, which includes the installation of an AC unit below the window. Aside from the continual construction about the neighborhood, there is a new and noisy subway extension being built along East 14 st and the shut down of the L line. "Choosing" to live in NYC, now the newest mantra, is a fabrication when the talk is of ST and PCV, which was traditionally quiet, with no construction noise.

Though money was always important, it is now more important than ever. Money rules many things, as you will find.

At this point, 30 years into living here and seeing many things, I can state that Management and their reps are BS-ing us. I can't say that loudly enough: We are being BS-ed. I don't see any genuine change, though the "selling" of this place is intense. Few of the "rules" will be enforced, as Management doesn't want to lose customers or potential customers. Where personal integrity is a hallmark of an excellent management style, this integrity is not seen in enforcing some of the rules.

About those "club cars" we see going this way and that way, and outside of Stuy Town or Peter Cooper Village:

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Food Trucks and Green Markets NOT Permitted in Stuy Town! Ice-Rink May Not Be Considered "Accessory" Use if Paid Admission and Open to Outsiders

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAN GARODNICK

Re: Commercial Activity in Stuyvesant Town

The Department of City Planning (DCP) has responded to the questions I posed to them about commercial activities in Stuyvesant Town.

With regard to the planned ice skating rink, DCP has advised that, due to “the unusualness of this circumstance,” we should seek the review of the Department of Buildings (DOB), which enforces zoning regulations.My office has already reached out to the DOB for a final word on whether an ice skating rink, for a fee, conforms to the R7-2 zoning regulation applicable in Stuyvesant Town.

Further, I have asked the DOB for a complete review of the construction permits and the work that is actively being performed – including the electrical wires being strung through trees – to ensure that any construction activity is being conducted without risk to residents or workers, and within appropriate hours of the day.We expect the appropriate enforcement of any violations.

I have also asked the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a test of the sound that will be emitted from various ice machines in order to ensure compliance with the noise code, and to confirm the safety of chemicals that appear to be used in connection with the rink.

With regard to other commercial activities – such as food trucks and greenmarkets – that are not permitted in an R7-2 residential zone, we expect CW Capital/Rose Associates to bring themselves into compliance with the law.I am happy to offer the assistance of my office in helping to relocate the Stuyvesant Town Greenmarket to an area around the property that would be both legal and convenient for the many residents who enjoy making use of it.

Residents who want to know what you can do to expedite enforcement on the ice rink or any other issue are advised to call 311 and to contact my office with your 311 reference number which will be helpful to us in following up.Residents should also feel free to contact my office at (212) 818-0580 with questions or concerns on any of these matters.

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STR here: Thanks to Dan Garodnick and his office for pursuing the legality of commercial activities inside Stuyvesant Town. It appears that the ice-skating rink WAS the straw that broke the camel's back. The powers that be just went too far on this. A strong spotlight came on not only the rink, but the other commercial activities that have been going on in the Oval. The ice skating rink issue is not yet settled, but it appears that if admission is charged and the rink is open to outsiders, the rink cannot be considered "accessory" usage.

The pity is that the relatively popular Farmer's Market is a causality here (at least within the confines of R7-2 zoning), but the blame rests purely on the powers that be who were speeding up the commercialization occurring inside Stuy Town while ignoring the concerns of tenants or the Tenants Association.

As for the Food Trucks, I'm going to send off a message to Joyride, who can now take a joy ride someplace else.

In summary, this is a substantial victory for what Stuyvesant Town has stood for and what it can hopefully stand for again.

Please, to whomever is "the powers that be"--all tenants want is for their buildings and the property to be clean and attractive, and for the traditional duties of a landlord to a tenant (heat, water, neighbor noise control, etc) to run smoothly. That's it! And so simple, without excessive expenditure.

48 comments:

Stuy Lifer
said...

I think/hope this will be the end of the rink. If a Greenmarket that makes relatively little noise is illegal because it's classified as commercial activity, how can large plastic tents, electrical wires, and a for-profit, open-to-the-public, music-blasting skating rink be legal? Enough is enough. Hopefully we can go back to 1997. No, not the days of dial-up internet, but the days of a quiet, beautiful, overall serene Oval free of moneymaking grabs by the landlord.

I love it! They rent, deliver and install all of this dreck to erect the ill-fated rink. They get it all in place just in the nick of time to get shut down by the city.

Now they're out a million bucks (someone else's estimate), their whole Atrocity package is collapsing around them as a result (Garodnick's proclamation) and they look like total fools (my assessment). And you KNOW someone is going to get ripped "a new one" over this colossal failure.

"Please, to whomever is "the powers that be"--all tenants want is for their buildings and the property to be clean and attractive, and for the traditional duties of a landlord to a tenant (heat, water, neighbor noise control, etc) to run smoothly. That's it! And so simple, without excessive expenditure."

I like the idea of a read in, but instead of being on the Oval it should be inside one or all of the Oval Atrocities. If those "members only" little glass boxy buildings were completely overrun by "non member" tenants who peacefully assembled and read and refused to move, what could Rose do? I don't think our fat, lazy bozo "security" offices could do much. I don't think the 13th Precinct professional police officers would be interested in coming in and arresting us all. Something to think about.

I don't believe Rose had anything to do with putting in the commercialization here, other than following orders. This place looked the best, right before the sale to Tishman Speyer, and Rose was in charge then. If Rose can get Stuy Town/PCV looking and operating as then, it will be a very good thing.

A few points of note. First is that Council Member Garodnick's request to the City Planning folks was made at the request of the leadership pf the Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village Tenants association, which is noted in the very first line of his letter to City Planning. Many of the Board members have been pushing hard on the zoning issues for some time now. Thus, kudos should go to the TA as well as to Dan for acting on that request and for his follow up actions relating to it.

Second, while Rose does act at the direction of CW Capital, particularly Andrew McArthur,the reality is that Rose works closely in collaboration with CW. In addition, as is clear in Adam Rose's response to Council Member Garodnick, as well as in his comment to T&V that these are "minor" commercial interruptions, Rose advocates and defends these violations and does not care about the legitimate concrens of the residents related to them.

Lastly, many of us who have lived here for the life of this community would dispute that assertion that place looked its best when Rose was in charge, before the TS era. Rose started many of the things that TS pushed and since teir return they have been an utter failure as property manager.

I think that the Oval atrocities are legal under the zoning resolution. Having said that, one might question the compliance with the health code for the food service in oval lounge - inspection certificates etc. Since I am not a member of the club, can anyone advise if they charge for the Saturday and Sunday servings? That could be an issue just like the planned cafe at the rink, which is very clearly a commercial activity that does not fit the definition of accessory use in the zoning resolution.

The Oval concierge may be worth taking a look since, as many know, it really is a replacement for the operation that was formerly on First Avenue.

If you really want to break their chops, complain about the zip car operations in PCV on the road and the zip car table at the market. Zip cars are not an accessory use either.

I don't think that the grounds were at their best during Rose's first regime. Remember it was Steven Stadmeyer who had all the beautiful trees in the Oval cut down in order to "open up the Oval." That man was a menace and had a "kiss my ass" attitude towards the tenants, especially the rent stabilized tenants. In my opinion, Rose Associates is no better than Tishman Speyer inasmuch as the welfare of the tenants (RS and MR) doesn't even enter into their vision. All they want to do is churn the apartments and in order to do this they endeavor to market to the demographic that will come in with 4 or 5 unrelated roommates, pay ridiculous rent (parentally subsidized mostly), move out and make room for the next of their kind. The fact that this is HOME to a good many people is meaningless to Rose Associates and CW Cap. If it were their home they would feel differently, I'm sure. We're not dealing with nice people of good will here; we're dealing with cut-throat profiteers. Just like the Speyers.

Well, all I know is that I had an epiphany of sorts while sitting in the Oval area in the summer, a few months before the sale of ST/PCV. Everything was in bloom and it really felt as if the place where I was sitting was so far away from Manhattan (yet so near, if I wanted), and so luxurious, vibrant and calming, that I reflected how very lucky I was to be living in Stuy Town.

Re: The trees. I was offended by their removal too, but have come to realize that after 60 years many of the trees suffered from poor health. I think the problem with their removal was that they weren't replaced with suitable replacement trees. Lots of bad decisions have been made in ST/PCV. I'm thinking about all the defective concrete that we paid for with an MCI, and the asphalt that they used to replace all the walkways which made the interior temps of the complex significantly higher. Oh, and those deluxe tin cans they call elevators ? And the argon filled exploding windows ? The intercoms they put in because THEY wanted to make a profit on them instead of the telephone company. Oh.. I can go on.

"Well, all I know is that I had an epiphany of sorts while sitting in the Oval area in the summer, a few months before the sale of ST/PCV. Everything was in bloom and it really felt as if the place where I was sitting was so far away from Manhattan (yet so near, if I wanted), and so luxurious, vibrant and calming, that I reflected how very lucky I was to be living in Stuy Town."

Are you saying that that was more fun than sitting in the mud listening to some tone-deaf bank playing along with some mooing "singer" who is equally tone-deaf competing with the hum of the Joyride and Mud and Dumplings trucks? You mean you liked it better when the Oval was in full bloom with trees and flowers instead of beer bottles and dog doo? Really! What terrible taste you have! ;-)

Are Rose Associates and CW Cap THAT ignorant of the laws pertaining to zoning and commercial activities on residential property, OR are they just so used to back room deals that they think they are untouchable? The latter has been the reason New York City is even mentioned in tourist guidebooks (I remember reading one!) as having the most corrupt politicians in the USA. It was mentioned as a bit of novelty trivia, but sadly it is very, very true and it affects us all in a very negative way. I'm glad Garodnick finally stepped up to the plate and did the right thing.

Thankfully for the majority of us who LOVE the greenmarket, I read the statement about the greenmarkets as Garodnick's gratuitous "opinion" about any potential/existing illegal zoning activity, and not a ruling from the DOB about the greenmarket. So when he says, "I expect CW Capital/Rose Associates to comply..." it's pretty clear that he means, he is asking/hoping generally, and focusing more on the ice rink, not that there is any legal ruling about the greenmarket's legality. I don't think this has any effect on the greenmarket (or the food trucks for that matter, though the latter I have no feeling about good or bad).

But he's running for higher office, so there's NO WAY he's going to piss off so many people by affirmatively getting rid of the farmer's market--including pissing off the Speaker, who is running for mayor and her advocacy for local food sources/markets is one of her strongest assets and why she's so popular.

I do hope they get rid of the ice rink, but that is a whole different type of thing, and more likely to be ruled illegal than the farmers' market. Don't forget, the GrowNYC organization is the one that has to get the appropriate permits for all their markets, so they've already done that and followed legal procedures. They are the ones who face fines or not, not Stuytown's owners, so they, in the course of operation, ensure that they have all their permits in order for each market. I'm sure Garodnick knows that and that this is really a nonissue. You should give that up and focus on the real problem.

Kudos to the "Quiet Oval Rally" organizers and attendees for raising awareness and keeping the pressure on the TA and Dan. To add your name to the Good Neighbor Petition please send an email to quietoval@gmail.com.

The greenmarket? You better believe I will be starting a petition and pull every city council string I have to STOP you from doing this. The greenmarket is staying.

You're going to "pull every city council string" you have? I guess you are part of the disease instead of part of the cure. It's because of all those city council strings and the pullers that the city is the den of corruption and qui pro quo that it is. We will be watching and you won't find it so easy anymore because we are SICK of your sleazy kind. City council members and their string-pullers are going to be under a lot more scrutiny than they ever have been going forward. That's a promise.

The greenmarket? You better believe I will be starting a petition and pull every city council string I have to STOP you from doing this. The greenmarket is staying.

Councilman Garodnick has already said that he is willing to help Management relocate the Greenmarket to somewhere close by OUTSIDE of Stuyvesant Town. Most reasonable people will probably think that that's a good and fair compromise. Really, can you not get off of your LAZY BUTT to walk a couple of blocks to continue to patronize it?!

And, just in case you don't know, there's another Greenmarket located just outside of Tompkins Square Park at Ave. A and East 7th St. that is open Sundays, YEAR-ROUND from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

This is a RESIDENTIAL property not CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES. The Greenmarket's presence INSIDE of Stuyvesant Town is ILLEGAL. What don't you get about that? We don't need to have every "amenity" known to the civilized world on site. Thankfully - and sensibly - the Dept. of City Planning agrees.

"The green market is The one good thing that that has happened around here and you killed it!You the TA, and Councilman Dan are the only people that I know who could ruin a wet-dream!"

Get over yourself. If CW Capital didn't force the hideous decontamination tent on us you'd still have your Farmer's Market 50 feet from the buildings. They'll move it to a loop road or some place close by. Too F*CKING bad if you have to walk an extra 100 feet to buy a cup of cider you narcissistic twerp.

Thankfully for the majority of us who LOVE the greenmarket, I read the statement about the greenmarkets as Garodnick's gratuitous "opinion" about any potential/existing illegal zoning activity, and not a ruling from the DOB about the greenmarket.

It's amazing - and scary - how DELUSIONAL people can be when it doesn't suit them to hear or understand facts.

It is NOT just Councilman Garodnick's gratuitous "opinion", it is the ruling of The Department of City Planning. A Greenmarket INSIDE of Stuyvesant Town is ILLEGAL. Period. End of story.

I stopped by the green market several times and didn't buy anything because the produce looked old and dirty. The stalls selling the "artisinal" cheeses make me want to puke. I think they are breaking health code laws apart from just looking disgusting. I buy my fruits and veggies from the Union Square farmers' market and occasionally from the guys who have stalls in from the Post Office on 14th Street and in front of the bank near CVS on First Avenue. Their produce is fresh and low priced. We don't need that stinking green market on the Oval! It will be no loss whatsoever to the majority of us who know where better produce is obtainable and don't mind actually going off the campus!

OMG We're surrounded by ignorance and insanity. I'm on Fed Up Tenant's team! It's NYC! These people want to live in a bubble instead of enjoying the glory of NYC, of finding anything you want in great neighborhoods -- some even nearby! Get out! See the sights. Plenty of green markets and coffee and dumplings and tons of other stuff. If you want a gated community, go live in one. And I bet you Stump-loving lazy people aren't the cranky old "subsidized" tenants! Wow! Get out! See the world! There's more to life than the confines of this luxurious red-brick maze.

Folks, the fact of the matter is not weather or not you like the Greenmarket, Skating Rink or any other business inside the Oval, it will be the rule of law that says what can or cannot be held there.

Just because someone chose to ignore the law doesn't mean it's OK. And to the person who thinks that they can pull their personal "strings" with the City Council to have their way, I can tell you that the City Council, just like every other branch of city government is bound by law, and you now have a whole lot of people who will make sure that they (and others) do their jobs and uphold those laws.

PCV/ST looked great and was prepped for sale by MetLife well before Rose Associates managed the property. Almost all of the upgrades were completed or planned well before Rose came on board pre-sale to Tishman. Some previous residents were very critical of Metlife but the buildings were well managed and properly maintained under that owner.

Dear Mr. Rose,In your 11/7 letter to Councilman Garodnick you assured him that "We will do everything possible to minimize the disturbance that may be caused by the ice rink to the buildings that surround it." So when does that kick in? It sure wasn't last night.

We live directly across from the ice rink and there has been a compressor loudly running since 3 p.m. yesterday. Even with all the windows in our apartment closed, it is so noisy no one in our household could sleep. For me, this is really problematic because I am recovering from surgery and rest is essential.

Putting aside environmental issues of the energy required to run an ice rink, if you wanted a "Winter Wonderland," why didn't you wait until winter to create it? According to my calendar, that's December 22nd. Running a compressor to create ice when the temperature is in the 60s is ridiculous, wasteful, and means it will be chugging non-stop per workers on the rink.

Please advise as to how you'll be mitigating this noise in the meantime. And we would be more than happy to invite you to sleepover here and experience this "amenity" for yourself. We're always up.

From Sheila & Kevin:We did call 311 and file a complaint; the Dept. of Enivornment Protection will look into/make an appt. to come see us in the next 10 days.FIne with us, Stuytown Reporter, if you put our letter on the front of the blog, BUT, please include in your reportage, that I did get a same-day response:-- Adam Rose emailed a direct answer, apologized for the compressor noise, and directed workers to correct it immediately-- He also had his assistant call and thank me for bringing the problem to his attention.

The compressor is still going, so I'm not sure what this all means, but Rose did respond. We'll see tonight.

Re: Adam's response to Sheila and Kevin. He needed to have the noise brought to his attention? He has no idea what is going on here? That's the definition of disingenuous. He knows precisely what's going on, but he's pretending that he, too, is some sort of innocent victim or bystander. How stupid do we look, Adam? You're pretty transparent.

Until There Is Silence No More

The Tenants Association and our councilman Dan Garodnick have mysteriously remained silent about a purported incident that occurred on July 12: the mugging by a group of individuals of someone right by Peter Cooper Village, along 20th Street.

The TA is basically done. Tenants can complain, but any action is negligible. The TA is effectively dead.

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"We'll be introducing a new process to identify registered dogs thus enabling Public Safety Officers to clearly approach offending dog owners. The registration will hang from the leash handle; clearly identifying the dog as registered.

"If the dog is not registered by May 1; a summons will be issued at the point of contact. If we learn the dog owner is not a resident, they will be escorted off the property."

Rick Hayduk, CEO and General Manager of PCVST. Letter to Barry Shapiro, February 2016.

STR here: I have been around since the inception of this dog policy and I have NEVER seen anyone escorted out of ST or PCV with their non-lanyard dog. But I have seen, many times, a dog owner from outside, and his/her dog, casually walking through ST or PCV.

THINKING of Renting in PCVST?

Read Yelp reviews to find out what it's like living here. Please note: All apartments are currently "rent-stabilized" but that doesn't prevent apartments from going up to 4K to 6K a month and even higher. How does this happen? Ask our politicians! Fact: Now less than half of the complex's apartments have the old rents and it's getting worse year by year--or better if you are the Real Estate Board of New York!

The Other Yelp Reviews

Yelp can be tricky and bounce reviews for a variety of reasons, like being a member and posting just one review. Very often, however, these reviews hold important truths about what's being reviewed. READ THESE TOO.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance. (a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Looks like there is some difficulty in enforcing the ban on certain dog breeds allowed inside Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village. Somehow pitbulls and pitbull mixes have been registered in STPCV and are allowed to be freely walked about the grounds! Registered dogs in the complex are max 50 pounds. Total, if there is more than one! More than two, it's illegal. It's going to get worse, and, face it, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village will never be like it once was.

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Read it and Weep

Current Value of ST/PCV

Was 5.4 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer bought the place.Became 1.7 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer left, with their tail between their legs. Of course, tenants now have to make up the loss.

Ex-landlord

Rob Speyer

1947 Stuy Town Plaque Honoring Met Life Chairman F.H. Ecker (Removed in 2002 and never seen again)

"... who with the vision of experience and the energy of youth conceived and brought into being this project, and others like it, that families of moderate means might live in health, comfort and dignity in park-like communities and that a pattern might be set of private enterprise productively devoted to public service."

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best supermarket: Associated on 14th St. between 1st Ave. and Ave A. The cheapest prices, fantastic weekly sales, very affordable lunches; solid, responsive management, but earthy. Some of the young female cashiers have attitude to spare, though. May be too far for Peter Cooper residents.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's got a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department. Stuy Town's own cafe was closed, too! And not because of all the dogs that hover and piss outside.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for its size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. ("Do you have a credit card?") We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are somewhat affordable.

I priced the CVS on 1st Ave near 14st. The non-aerosol hairspray was 20 cents above CVS' own website price, and one of the highest in NY. (Yes, I have hair.) You can save at least a dollar or more buying at another place. So beware. Look around for a better deal on all your items.

I love warm Quaker Oats in the morning. Gristedes is not the place to get it, nor is Associated, though their price is less. Look around!

Macular Degeneration Support Group

If you are currently diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary is offering a support group for you. Conveniently located next to the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, our group offers the opportunity to share stories with other members, listen to expert guest speakers, and learn coping strategies to reduce stress. Our group runs on the first Wednesday of every month and we would enjoy seeing you there.
Please contact Baptiste Nicolas, Social Work Assistant at 212-979-4105 for further information and to see if this group is right for you!